LET IT OUT

273 | You Don't Have to Look Sick to be in Pain: Eating Disorder Recovery, Lying, Social Media, Addiction, and Support with The Chain Founders Christina Grasso & Ruth Friendlander

Episode Summary

It's fitting to air this episode during [New York Fashion Week](https://nyfw.com/). From what I've heard, for those in the industry it's a week with no-sleep, harsh style comparisons, high stress, and a triggering one for those recovering from disordered eating. This week's conversation os with the founders of [The Chain](https://www.the-chain.us/), a peer network for women in fashion and entertainment is fitting. Co-founded by writers [Ruthie Friendlander](https://twitter.com/ruthiefrieds?lang=en) and [Christina Grasso](https://twitter.com/the_pouf?lang=en), the group is particularly active during NYFW, supporting and connecting their community. The Chain's message is useful to anyone regardless of industry who has struggled with body image and disordered eating. I met the founders at one of their events this spring and loved their vulnerability in how they discussed their recovery ups and downs. I've learned a lot from them, like how disordered eaters tend to be good liars and that self honesty and support are key to true recovery. We recorded this in Ruthie's apartment this summer and covered their experience with disordered eating, what helped them, as well as what they've created with The Chain. My friend writer [Rose Truesdale](http://www.rosetruesdale.com/) appears in the intro where we talk about travel and disordered eating a bit too, enjoy this episode.

Episode Notes

It's fitting to air this episode during New York Fashion Week. From what I've heard, for those in the industry it's a week with no-sleep, harsh style comparisons, high stress, and a triggering one for those recovering from disordered eating. This week's conversation os with the founders of The Chain, a peer network for women in fashion and entertainment is fitting. Co-founded by writers Ruthie Friendlander and Christina Grasso, the group is particularly active during NYFW, supporting and connecting their community. The Chain's message is useful to anyone regardless of industry who has struggled with body image and disordered eating. I met the founders at one of their events this spring and loved their vulnerability in how they discussed their recovery ups and downs. I've learned a lot from them, like how disordered eaters tend to be good liars and that self honesty and support are key to true recovery. We recorded this in Ruthie's apartment this summer and covered their experience with disordered eating, what helped them, as well as what they've created with The Chain. My friend writer Rose Truesdale appears in the intro where we talk about travel and disordered eating a bit too, enjoy this episode.

-Ellyn Satter's definition of normal eating: "Normal eating is being able to eat when you are hungry and continue eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it-not just stop eating because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to use some moderate constraint in your food selection to get the right food, but not being so restrictive that you miss out on pleasurable foods. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good. Normal eating is three meals a day, most of the time, but it can also be choosing to munch along. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful when they are fresh. Normal eating is overeating at times: feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. It is also under eating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.

In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your emotions, your schedule, your hunger, and your proximity to food."